Helping you stick to your New Year's resolutions

Climate change is happening in Waltham Forest and across the world. We are committed to reaching net zero by 2030, and through our Climate Action Plan we're offering residents, businesses, employers and community groups the tools and the support they need to help us tackle the Climate Emergency together. Here are some things you can do to help:  

• Recycle, reuse, repair. Help us improve our recycling rates by recycling more and contaminating less. Check out our helpful A-Z waste guide to find out what to put in each bin. And why not reuse or repair rather than throw things away? Learn more about local repair initiatives and keep your eyes on this page to find our interactive map.
• Make use of your new food waste caddy. Your food waste will be sent to a plant where it will create Biogas (a renewable energy source) and fertiliser to be used on farmland to grow more food. If you haven't had yours yet, don't worry! Every property should have their caddy by March 2025.
• Get the community involved. Why not speak to your neighbours and apply to create a parklet in your street? Or volunteer with them to create a 'Bee Friendly Street' in your local area, supporting vital pollinators and natural biodiversity. 
• Sign up to receive Climate e-news to stay up to date with all the initiatives and opportunities for you to get involved. 

Maybe your resolution is to drink less alcohol, or maybe it’s to practice mindfulness to reduce stress levels, or maybe it’s to finally quit smoking. Whatever the resolution, we are happy to help. 

• Reducing your drinking can help you improve your health, boost your energy, and even save money. Have you seen our Drinks tonight? campaign in your local market? It features some helpful resources and practical tips to help you cut back. 
• Sometimes anxiety, stress and low moods can negatively affect our daily lives. If this sounds familiar, remember that you are not alone, and that help is available. Our partners Good Thinking offer digital self-help resources to help you navigate anxiety and stress. More support is also available on our Mental Health pages. 
• Is 2025 the year you want to quit smoking? You are three times more likely to quit smoking for good with professional support. Get free advice and tailored support from Quit Right Waltham Forest, a service specifically for those who live, work or study in the borough. 

Building more movement into your life can help to clear your mind, get your heart pumping or grow your social connections. Activities such as walking, jogging, cycling or exercising are not only great for your health but are known to be a great way to boost your mood and make you feel good.

• Our Get Moving in Waltham Forest pages have lots of ways you can build movement into your daily life and have fun while doing it across the borough.
• Using your commute to get some physical activity can not only help you move more, but it can be great for the environment, reducing the number of cars on the road and improving air quality. Whether you want to take up cycling or want to try walking your commute journey for the first time, we have loads of ways to switch up your commute.
• Find plenty of activities in our sports and leisure centres. 
• Don’t want to commit to a gym membership? From Parkrun to walking groups and free exercise classes in one of our lovely parks, there are loads of other ways to get involved. 

If you are one of the many people with a never-ending 'Want to read' list on Goodreads for the year ahead, why not check out what our amazing libraries have on offer.  

• The Waltham Forest Libraries online platform makes it even easier to find new stories and reserve your favourite titles ahead of your visit.  
• If you are a little bit more old school and like to lose yourself between the bookshelves, find your closest library and pay them a visit. 
• We know some of our residents might find it difficult to visit the library, but through our Libraries 2 You programme you can get books, audiobooks and large-print books delivered to your door every four weeks. 

Learning new things not only keeps our minds active, but it can boost your moods, improving your confidence while reducing depression and anxiety. There is no better time than now to learn that language or that new skill you have always wanted to. 

• Waltham Forest Adult Learning service has a variety of courses from creative courses, business, and administration to gardening. Apprenticeships are also available to help you earn while you learn. 
• Learn how to ride a bike or brush up your cycling skills with free Enjoy Waltham Forest cycle training delivered by our partners Cycle Confident to anybody who lives, works, or studies in Waltham Forest. 

Giving or volunteering your time, resources, or ideas to a cause you are passionate about can be extremely rewarding and a fantastic way to give back to the local community. 

• Learn about the many volunteering opportunities available in Waltham Forest. 
• Want to volunteer in one of our parks? You could be helping improve green spaces for wildlife, keeping our parks beautiful and learning more about conservation, nature, and biodiversity. 

Volunteering takes time and sometimes it's not the most viable option to do good. Did you know there are ways for you to support those in need directly at home? 

• Do you have some extra space in your home and want to make a difference to a young person’s life? Foster with us! We’ve joined forces with other councils in North East London to support more people to become foster carers. It might feel like a big step, but we'll be with you at every turn, with training, a dedicated support team, as well as weekly allowance, council tax discounts and much more. 
• In partnership with Two Generations, our Homeshare scheme matches older people who have a spare room, with younger people who can provide bespoke assistance, such as helping with chores, providing companionship, or giving lifts, in return for reduced rent. 
• Become a Shared Lives carer. Shared Lives helps adults with a range of care needs who need support to live a more independent family life by going to live with a Shared Lives carer. Instead of going into a care home setting, the cared-for person lives in the family home with their Shared Lives carer, providing a real-life family experience. 

Around 40,000 wedding proposals happen every year in the UK between Christmas and New Year's Eve. If you are one of the lucky ones who will be planning a wedding this year, congratulations! Organising a wedding can be incredibly fun, but also quite stressful. Luckily, we’ve got you covered.

• Visit our Waltham Forest Ceremonies portal to learn more about having your wedding at one of our venues 
• Why not come along to our Wedding Fair at Waltham Forest Town Hall, on Sunday 26 January, where you will be able to meet vendors, learn more about the ceremonies available in our venues and see the gorgeous Fellowship Square in person.